Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (Sunset Cove #3)(18)

“Maybe he stumbled and missed. Or was startled.” Claire grabbed the cherry-red teakettle and filled it with water, then put it on the induction cooktop. “I need some tea. Want some?”

“Sure. I’ll try to get my breathing back in order.” The back of her neck still prickled, and Kate rubbed it.

The back door opened, and Luke stepped inside, bringing the fresh scent of the outdoors with him. “Whoever it was, he’s gone now.” His gaze went to Claire, and he winced when she turned enough to show the mark on her cheek. “Let me see.” He stepped closer and moved her into the wash of light from the ceiling globe. “I don’t think it needs stitches.” He brushed a kiss on top of her head. “Does it hurt?”

She shook her head. “I’m fine. Did you call the sheriff?”

He nodded. “Kevin is closer though, and he’s on his way.” He glanced at Kate. “I saw where the guy was standing. The grass is matted down across the road in a stand of ash trees. It looks like he hiked in. I didn’t hear any motor vehicles.”

“She thinks it was Paul.” The teakettle shrieked, and Claire moved to lift it from the heat.

Luke stared at Kate and took a notepad from his pocket. “You think Paul got out and came here for revenge?”

“I don’t know what his plan is, but remember Daryl in The Walking Dead? That’s my Uncle Paul. He’s deadly with that crossbow, and he knows these woods better than most people know their bedrooms.”

“But you don’t know it’s Paul,” Luke said. She stared back at him and said nothing until he shrugged. “Okay, I get it. You know him better than I do, and you’re sure. But Kevin will be here shortly and we have no proof.”

“He hung out at this old house a lot when he was hunting. You found that mattress on the floor in the downstairs bedroom, remember? He probably didn’t know you’d taken it over since he’s been in prison. It might have ticked him off when he saw Claire on the porch and realized the house was hers.” Kate accepted the hot mug of tea Claire handed her. “I don’t know what he was thinking. I need to find him. He’ll talk to me.”

At least she thought he would. They’d always been close. He’d been the only real father figure she had, and he’d taken her fishing and hunting more times than she could count. He’d comforted her when her mother was too harsh and remote, which was most of the time. She was certain of his love even though his actions had shaken her faith in all she thought she knew about family.

Surely there was some good left in her uncle. He could have killed Claire today, and he didn’t.

Claire pulled out a chair at the chunky farm table. “How can you track him down?”

“I know his haunts. And maybe he’ll call me or come by the cottage.”

“Won’t he be afraid the law has your place staked out?” Luke asked.

Kate pulled out a chair beside Claire and sat. The thought of seeing Paul hauled off to jail again tightened her throat. And what if someone shot him right in front of her? He was still her uncle, part of her. She didn’t want him hurt. “I’ll have to see if I can find him.”

But where? Wait, he’d had a new girlfriend. What was her name? It didn’t come to her right now, but it would. Maybe he’d gone there.

*

The distant roar of the waves expending themselves on the rocky shore added to Drake’s turmoil as he watched the girls throw bread to the gulls. The birds fought viciously for their crumbs and pecked at any other gull that dared to try to snag a piece of their treasure. The girls laughed at the birds, then tossed them more bread to fight over.

“Kind of like people, aren’t they?” The wind tugged at Dixie’s hair bun and had put a hint of pink in her weathered cheeks. She was barefoot on the cold sand, and her legs beneath the rolled-up denim overalls looked cold and chapped.

He frowned down at his aunt. “I’m not tracking with you.”

“Everyone’s natural inclination is to get all they can and can all they get. They never think about other people until they’re taught about compassion and caring.”

“You think I should hire Kate Mason, don’t you? But she grabbed those iPads right out of the girls’ hands. I thought that was a little bold. They’ve been through a lot.” He’d tossed and turned a lot last night and awakened with the decision to find someone sweeter and gentler.

She shrugged and tugged her camo jacket a little tighter around her shoulders. “That’s life. And if we give them a pass for every bump in the road, they’ll turn out just like so many self-absorbed teenagers you see every day. You want that for them?”

“I don’t call losing both parents a ‘bump in the road.’ ” Not many kids had to face that kind of heartbreak. He wanted to see Phoebe sleep without a lamp on again. He’d give up every cent in his hefty bank account to hear Emma laugh again.

His throat tightened, and he looked out to sea where a large yacht scooted past the rocks. Heath had loved sailing. They’d spent many happy hours on their family boat when they were growing up.

Sometimes the pain of his brother’s loss was too much to bear. He had to find out what happened or he’d never have peace.

His aunt touched his arm. “I’m not saying it wasn’t a tragic, horrible event, Drake. But if you’re not careful, you’ll ruin those girls. Do you think Heath would have wanted that?”